Holiday meals worth being thankful for
Updated: November 20, 2012
CHAMPAIGN -- Turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes. Those are a few of everyone's Thanksgiving dinner staples. Tuesday, volunteers worked to make sure everyone's holiday is just as filling. WCIA-3's Megan Brilley attended a huge turkey give away from a local church.
It handed out 375 birds, but the hundreds who showed up, got more than just food.
"It's going to make the holiday."
For Andre Beckett, Thanksgiving is a big day. She gets to spend time with her family which is bigger than most.
"I've got ten grand-kids and two daughters."
Beckett has early stage Alzheimer's so she can't work. Filling 13 plates is virtually impossible without help.
"Our goal is to touch and reach our community."
That's where the Glory Center comes in, with donations from the community.
"The poverty rates are sky-rocketing. There are families in need."
In Champaign County, the average household makes about $40,000/year. That's 18% below the statewide average.
"It sure breaks a woman down."
It's a struggle Beckett knows all about. But, says days like Tuesday, keep her going.
"It's just wonderful people coming together and helping each other. They had so much food, I couldn't believe it. I got raspberries, asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, carrots..."
Not to mention turkey. Beckett and her big family are having Thanksgiving at her daughter's house.
"She was worrying about trying to get everything together for Thanksgiving dinner, so I'm going in with everything."
But she isn't going to tell her until the day of.
"It'll be a surprise for her. It's a wonderful thing."
The Glory Center will hold the event again next year and plan a goal of 500.
It handed out 375 birds, but the hundreds who showed up, got more than just food.
"It's going to make the holiday."
For Andre Beckett, Thanksgiving is a big day. She gets to spend time with her family which is bigger than most.
"I've got ten grand-kids and two daughters."
Beckett has early stage Alzheimer's so she can't work. Filling 13 plates is virtually impossible without help.
"Our goal is to touch and reach our community."
That's where the Glory Center comes in, with donations from the community.
"The poverty rates are sky-rocketing. There are families in need."
In Champaign County, the average household makes about $40,000/year. That's 18% below the statewide average.
"It sure breaks a woman down."
It's a struggle Beckett knows all about. But, says days like Tuesday, keep her going.
"It's just wonderful people coming together and helping each other. They had so much food, I couldn't believe it. I got raspberries, asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, carrots..."
Not to mention turkey. Beckett and her big family are having Thanksgiving at her daughter's house.
"She was worrying about trying to get everything together for Thanksgiving dinner, so I'm going in with everything."
But she isn't going to tell her until the day of.
"It'll be a surprise for her. It's a wonderful thing."
The Glory Center will hold the event again next year and plan a goal of 500.
